Disappearing structure



Feb. 3, 1925. I

w. N. MILLER 1524343 DiSAPPEARING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 25, 1925 INVENTGR WILLIAM N MILLER- v I t W fly ao j J nuns and adapted Patented Feb. 3, i925.

ST T S PATENT WILLIAM N. MILLER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA DISAPPEARING STRUCTURE.

Application filed Getober 25, 1928.

To all 1072 0m it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM N. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented new and useful Im provements in Disappearing Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to disappearing structures and especially to that type known as built-in wall or closet shelves, cabinet tables and the like.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of structures of the character described; to provide a disappear ing structure embodying an element or mem ber movable from a concealed position to an extended horizontal position; to provide a substantial support for the extensible member which is also movable from concealed to extended position, and further, to provide a novel connection between the members where by movement of the supporting member will be automatically transmitted to extend and retract the concealable member.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a disappearing foldable table.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 22, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, B indicates a cabinet such as is employed in kitchens and the like. These cabinets are usually built in or permanently attached to the wall indicated at A. The cabinet shown in this instance is provided with an upper shallow horizontally disposed compartment 3 formed between a bottom section 4 and a top plate 2. Mounted within the cabinet to be concealed therein is a beam or supporting member generally inclicated at 5. This beam is pivotally secured to the bottom section f by means of a bolt 6, and the beam swings about this bolt when moved to open or closed position.

Slidably mounted in the compartment is a table leaf 7, and hingedly secured to the forward edge thereof, as at 9, is a second leaf as indicated at 8. The leaf 8 is adapted to be folded on top of the leaf 7 as shown in Fig. 2, or it may be unfolded with relation to the leaf 7 to assume the dotted or extended position indicated at 8*; the direction of Serial No. 670,718.

movement from folded to extended position being indicated by the arrow Z). The table leaf sections 7 and 8 are supported by the beam 5 both in the extended and in the retracted position, and means are provided for extending the beam and the leaves in unison and for retracting the same in unison. This is accomplished as follows:

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the inner side of the leaf 7 is slotted as shown at 13, and that a pin 14; carried by the beam 5 projects upwardly into the slot 13. The pin forms a connection between the beam and the leaf 7 which insures outward and inward movement of the leaf in unison with the beam. The position of the beam when concealed is such as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The leaves 7 and 8 are also retracted or concealed when the beam assumes this position and when it is desired to extend the beam and the table leaves, it is only necessary to grasp a ring or handle such as shown at 15. By pulling outwardly on the ring or, in other words, by swinging the beam 5 about its pivot 6 in the direction of arrow a, the beam will be swung to the full line position shown at 5 in Fig. 1 and the leaves will travel outwardly in unison with the beam and will also assume the full line position shown. The foldable leaf 8 may then be swung about its hinges 9 and will assume the dotted line position shown at 8 in Fig. 2. The table is then completely extended and the leaf 8 is supported by the forward end of the beam indicated at 5".

If it is desired to fold the table and to replace it in the compartment, it will only be necessary to first fold the leaf 8 as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and then to swing the beam about its outer end until it completely enters the con'ipartment. This movement is simultaneously transmitted to retract the leaves as the pin 14 will engage the inner wall of the slot 13 and thus retract the leaves. The beam and theleaves may here be concealed by closing a front door such as shown at 16 and the cabinet will thus completely conceal the entire structure.

To insure uniform movement of the leaves while being extended or retracted, and to prevent any binding action, a pair of end strips such as shown at 7 is provided. The inner ends of the end strips project beyond the leaf 7 as shown at 7 and they are enlarged to form combined guides and stops for the leaf. The end sections of the cabinet indicated at 10 are channeled as shown at 12 and these channeled portions receive the enlarged ends 7. The projecting ends prevent tilting or binding of the leaves when they are being extended or retracted, and they furthermore form additional supports therefor; that is, the main weight of the leaves is supported by the beam 5, but a small portion. thereof is taken care of by the extended ends 7. The main function of the projecting ends is, however. that of guiding the leaves and of stopping their forward movement when completely extended; stop strips such as shown at 10 being provided to prevent removal of the leaves and to hinder furthe progress.

The rear wall of the cabinet indicated at 20 is provided with. two openings such as shown at 91. These openings are disposed in aligmnent with the enlarged ends 7* and the enlarged ends pass through these openings when the leaves are retracted. By rcferring to Fig. 2 it will. he noted that the cabinet B is built directly against the wall indicated at A, and that a spacing is formed in the wall. This spacing is equal to the studding employed and it is more than sufficient. to take care of the projecting ends 7 their dotted line position when complete ly retracted being indicated at it). By rcferring to Fig. 1. it will also he noted that the rear wall of the cabinet is slotted or cut away as indicated at 22. This is of considerable importance as it permits the inner end of the beam to pass in under the slottedor cut away portion and to be sup-- ported thereby; that is, the beam proper is secured by the bolt 6 and while this may be sufficient under most conditions, it is obvious that it would be ideal to also engage the in nor end of the beam to further support the same. This is accomplished by slotting the rear wall as shown at 22 and by permitting the beam to swing in under the same. Two supports are therefore provided and practically any weight may be placed on the outer end of the beam without straining the pivota-l. mounting shown at 6.

The disappearing structure here shown is 1 V 1 a l partlculaily adapted forv folding tables, shelves, seats and like structures where a con'iparatively shallow vertical space must be employed, and while it is here shown as forming a part of a kitchen cabinet or the like, it is obvious that it may be built directly into a wall structure such as shown at A or into other forms of built-in structures. The device as a whole is exceedingly simple and substantial and as practically no hard ware is required, the cost of installation is materially reduced.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illus trated, I wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. I similarly wish it understood that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

lilaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt is i. ii disappearing table, shelf or like device, including a structure having a compartment formed therein, a horizontally disposed beam pivotally secured at one end of the compartment and adapted to be swung horizontally about said pivot into and out o t the compartment, a horizontally disposed table leaf supported by the beam andhorizoutally slidable into and out of the compartment, and a connection between the leaf and the beam whereby outward movement of the beam will extend the leaf, and, conrcrsely, inward movement or the beam will retract the leaf.

2. A disappearing table, shelf or like device, including a structure having a compartment formed therein, a horizontally disposed beam pivotally secured at one end of the compartment and adapted to be swung horizontally about said pivot into and out of the compartment, a horizontally disposed table leaf supported by the beam and horizontally slidable into and out ofthe compartment, a connection between the leaf and the beam wherebv outward movement of the beam. will extend the leaf, and, conversely. inward movement of the beam will retract the leaf, and an auxiliary leaf hingedly secured to the outer edge of the first named leaf and folda-ble with relation thereto said auxiliary leaf also adapted to be supported by the beam.

3. A disappearing table, shelf or like-device, including a structure having a compartment formed therein, a beam pivotally secured in the compartment at one end and adapted to be swung horizontally into and out of the compartment, a table leaf supported by the beam and horizontally slidable into and out of the compartment, said leaf having longitudinal slot formed therein, and a pin secured to the beam and pro jecting up into the slot, said pin adapted to pull the leaf outwardly from the compartment when the beam is swung outwardly and, conversely. to force the leaf into the compartment when the beam is swung back into the compartment.

4. A disappearing table, shelf or like device, including a structure having a compartment formed therein, a beam pivotally secured in the compartment at one end and adapted to be swung horizontally into and out of the compartment, a table leaf sup ported by the beam and horizontally slidable into and out of the compartment, said leaf having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a pin secured to the beam and projecting up into the slot, said pin adapted to pull the leaf outwardly from the compartment when the beam is swung outwardly and, conversely, to force the leaf into the compartment when the beam is swung back into the compartment, and means in the compartment for guiding the ends of the leaf.

5. A disappearing table, shelf or like device, including a structure having a compartment formed therein, a beam pivotally secured in the compartment at one end and adapted to be swung horizontally into and out of the compartment, a table leaf supported by the beam and horizontally slidable into and out of the compartment, said leaf having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a pin secured to the beam and projecting up into the slot, said pin adapted to pull the leaf outwardly from the compartment when the beam is swung outwardly and, conversely, to force the leaf into the compartment when the beam is swung back into the compartment, and means in the compartment for guiding the ends of the leaf, said means also serving as a stop to limit outward movement of the leaf.

6. A disappearing table, shelf or like device, including a structure having a compartment formed therein, a beam pivotally secured in the compartment at one end and adapted to be swung horizontally into and out of the compartment, a table leaf supwhen the beam is swung outwardly and conversely, to force the leaf into the compartment when the beam, is swung back into the compartment, a air of guideways formed one in each end of the compartment, a pair of end strips on the leaf, and shoes on the inner ends of said strips projecting into the slots to guide the leaf, and said shoes also forming stops to limit the outward movement of the leaf.

7. A disappearing table, shelf or like device, including a structure having a compartment formed therein, a horizontally disposed beam pivotally secured at one end of the compartment and adapted to be swung horizontally about said pivot into and out of the compartment, means within the compartmentl for engaging and securing the pivotal end of the beam when it is swung out of the compartment, a horizontally disposed table leaf supported by the beam and horizontally slidable into and out of the compartment, and a connection between the leaf and the beam whereby outward movement of the beam will extend the leaf, and conversely whereby inward movement of the beam will retract the leaf.

lVILLIAM N. MILLER. 

